Hawkins County Commission approves budget amendments, caps charitable contributions and allocates opioid funds

The Hawkins County Commission met in regular session on March 24, 2025, and approved a set of routine and policy items, including budget amendments, a resolution urging the Tennessee General Assembly to limit eminent domain, and an amended cap on charitable contributions that preserves funding for emergency services.

The session opened with attendance recorded (12 present, two absent) and a recognition from Commissioner Josh Gilliam of his grandmother, Robie Howe, on her 100th birthday. The commission approved the minutes of its Feb. 24, 2025 meeting on a motion by Commissioner Nancy Barker, seconded by Commissioner Charles Thacker.

Why it matters: The commission’s approvals will adjust county budgets and set local policy preferences. The charitable-contributions cap, as amended, preserves funding for fire departments, rescue squads, E-911, EMS and library maintenance-of-effort while reducing or capping other discretionary contributions; it also provides an extra $10,000 to agencies that receive EMR certification.

Key actions and outcomes

- Eminent domain resolution: Commissioner Jason Roach moved Resolution 2025/03/01, recommending that the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee protect private property rights by making or amending law to limit eminent domain powers. Commissioner John Gibson seconded the motion. The resolution passed by roll call: 12 yes, 0 no, 2 absent.

- Charitable contributions cap (amended): Commissioner Jason Roach introduced Resolution 2025/03/02 to cap charitable contributions at the 2023–2024 fiscal year allocations with an exception of an extra $10,000 for agencies with EMR certification. The commission voted to amend the measure to preserve funding for fire departments, rescue squads, E-911, EMS, emergency response and library maintenance-of-effort and to cap other charitable contributions at 2024–2025 allocations. The amendment was moved by Commissioner Roach and seconded by Commissioner Robbie Palmer; the amended resolution passed by roll call (12 yes, 0 no, 2 absent).

- Opioid abatement funds: On a motion by Commissioner Josh Gilliam, seconded by Commissioner Larry Clonce, the commission approved allocating 2023 State Opioid Abatement funds to establish or support an opioid response program to be directed through Hawkins County Emergency Medical Services. The measure passed by roll call (10 yes, 2 no — Commissioners Danny Alvis and Charles Thacker voted no). The transcript does not specify the dollar amount allocated.

- Budget amendments and other fiscal items: The commission approved budget amendments for the General Fund, Drug Fund and Highway Fund (motions by Jason Roach, seconded by John Gibson; each approved by roll call, 12 yes, 2 absent). The commission also approved surplus of a 2005 Ford F-450 from the Highway Department and approved reassigning a $6.67 portion of the original wheel tax from Highway Debt Service Fund to Highway Capital Projects (11 yes, 1 no — Trent — 2 absent).

- Notaries and administrative items: The commission approved appointments of notaries public and a notary public surety bond (motions by John Gibson and Jason Roach). A Budget Committee meeting was announced to occur 30 minutes prior to the next County Court if needed.

What the record does not show: The transcript provides roll-call tallies and lists of who voted yes and no on many items, but it does not include direct verbatim quotes from speakers or the dollar amount of the opioid-abatement allocation.

Next steps: The measures approved take immediate administrative effect as recorded in the minutes; no follow-up dates were specified in the transcript. The meeting was adjourned on a motion by Commissioner Nancy Barker, seconded by Commissioner Charles Thacker.